Author Ariella Barker

Ariella Barker, Esq.received her BBA and JD from Emory University. She worked for many years representing the City of NY and Mayor Bloomberg in employment discrimination lawsuits. She was Ms. Wheelchair NC 2014.

What makes me “amazing” and so different from other women is precisely because of my disability and life experiences surrounding it. It’s made me compassionate and empathetic, strong and self-confident, determined and passionate, straight-forward and level-headed. It’s what made me impervious to the intensity of our relationship and subsequent break-up.

Three weeks ago, I was in a deep depression. I had transitioned from an independent life as a practicing attorney living all over the world to becoming chronically ill and forced to return to North Carolina in a suburb, where I quickly became isolated.

Nondisabled women are often victimized, but disabled women are statistically more vulnerable to sex offenders. My long and sad history of victimization have taught me to avoid these events in the future, to the point where I can sense impending violence long before others do. We don’t need to stop living like I did for so long, just recognize the signs and be wise.

The Presidential election is quickly approaching, and despite whoever wins, people with disabilities will be greatly affected. The question disabled people must ask themselves before pulling the lever is which candidate will benefit them more.

It is inevitable that everyone in their lifetime will get sick, old and in need of healthcare. The fact that we have private health insurance companies and pharmaceutical companies profiting off of our illnesses is outrageous. Insurance is supposed to be for things that MIGHT happen. With 100% certainty, every American will get sick and old. There is no might about it. But as long as we have big money in politics with big pharma and the private health insurance lobby being in the pocket of our politicians, we will never see the end of corporations profiting from the most vulnerable among us.